New building set for the Eden Project

7 September 2012,

Eden Project and Cornwall College are about to submit plans to Cornwall Council for a new centre at the Eden site near St Austell.

Eden Project

The project, known as HOW2, has been on the drawing board for several years and outline plans are to go before planners. The centre with curved roof will showcase sustainable technologies and provide education and training facilities.

Eden chief executive of enterprise Gaynor Coley said: "This will allow visitors to explore how we might live and work successfully in the 21st Century and how everyone can take part. It will be rich with new ideas on low-carbon living. Built-in recording facilities will put lessons on the web.

"The aim is to create a new approach that combines hands-on practical experimentation and learning with online digital information that is accessible from any internet connection. This will help drive the swift transfer of knowledge."

Development phases were funded with grants of £385,000 from the European Regional Development Fund and £175,000 from Cornwall Council. The exact location on the Eden site is being appraised and, subject to funding being secured, completed is due by mid 2015.

She said around 150 new jobs would be created by HOW2 over the next 10 years as it grew as a hub for people to share and skills. It will include a business club for people involved in problem solving to share ideas with entrepreneurs, businesses, academics and students.

Cornwall College principal Dave Linnell said: "The project will allow us to remain at the forefront of sustainable and renewable technologies training within the Cornish economy. We have worked with the Eden Project on a number of schemes previously."